Match Information
Score: No. 2 Keiser 5, No. 3 Xavier 2
Records: No. 2 Keiser (21-4), No. 3 Xavier (19-6)
Location: Mobile, Alabama
Venue: Mobile Tennis Center
 
Match Summary
The second-ranked Seahawks advanced to their second straight NAIA National Championship match with their 5-2 victory against No. 3 Xavier. This will mark the third national championship appearance in program history and second under coach Finn. Tomorrow will also be a rematch of last year's championship which KU lost 5-2.
 
Doubles

• Keiser began the match with an 8-1 win in the number three doubles slot as Dugleisy Linarez and Daniela Farfan bested Yi Cen Pao and Lacee Ancar, 8-1.
• The Seahawks doubled their lead to 2-0 from the second doubles position as Aleksandra Grela and Emma Henriksen upended Farah Baklouiti and Mariia Borodii, 8-3.
• Xavier avoided the doubles sweep as No. 3 Sarah Schaerer and Lorene Foerste dropped a hard fought battle to No. 4 Charlene Goreau and Angela Charles-Alfred, 9-8.

 
Singles

• Foerste gained the point back for the Seahawks in the number six singes position, besting Ancar in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0 to stretch the Keiser lead to 3-1.
• The Golden Nuggets pulled to within one as Linarez suffered a 6-1, 6-0 setback to No. 19 Charles Alfred in the third slot.
• No. 35 Grela put the Seahawks one win away from clinching a spot in the national championship as she defeated Baklouti, 6-2, 6-2.
• No. 7 Anais Gabriel clinched the match for the Seahawks, defeating No. 3 Goreau, 6-3, 6-4, sending Keiser back into the championship for a second straight year.

 
Coach's Corner
Head Coach Daniel Finn said, "What an effort by the ladies today. We knew going into this one that it would be a dogfight and doubles would be crucial. The girls came out a little slow early on but once we worked our way into the match, the ladies really played some great doubles to take the lead into singles.  Credit to Xavier as they fought us until the last ball. Coach Green always has his teams ready for a fight and I have so much respect for him and how he coaches his teams. That said, our girls really handled the challenge today. We didn't play necessarily our best tennis and had Xavier breathing down our throats but we kept our composure and really played well when we needed to and brought great energy. I'm just very proud of these ladies, all year long our #1 goal has been to get back to the national championship match and have another opportunity to take our shot at it and now after 365 days and so much hard work here we are. Tomorrow will be a great opportunity against a great team and the ladies are looking forward to the battle."
 
Up Next
The Seahawks will rematch with No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett tomorrow in the 2019 NAIA National Championship match at 2:00 p.m. EST.